UNDP in
Nepal

UNDP in
Nepal

Discharge and Rehabilitation of Maoist Army Personnel - Minors and Late Recruits

Nov 9, 2009

The discharge and rehabilitation of the 4,008 Maoist army personnel verified as late recruits or minors as of 25 May 2006 is a critical step in the peace process closely linked to the implementation of the peace agreements.

The Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction (MoPR) has the responsibility to lead, manage and implement the discharge and rehabilitation process working in close collaboration with the Unified Communist Party of Nepal - Maoist (UCPN-M) leadership.

UNDP - in collaboration with UNICEF and UNFPA, and under the overall leadership of UNMIN- is providing operational and technical support to the MoPR.

The Government of Nepal and the UCPN-M reached an agreement recently to resume the discharge and rehabilitation process which has been stalled in recent months. In this regard, a Steering Committee chaired by the Minister of Peace and Reconstruction, Mr. Rakam Chemjong, with representation from UCPN-M and senior UN officials has been established to provide policy guidance and oversee the process. A Technical Committee has also been established with a similar membership to plan and oversee the technical implementation of the process.

Honourable Minister Rakam Chemjong, officially launched the discharge and rehabilitation process on 11 October 2009 at the Maoist army main cantonment site in Sindhuli district, accompanied by senior UCPN-M leaders, the Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Nepal, and senior UN Country Team officials from UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA.

The Technical Committee also initiated the first of six phases in the discharge and rehabilitation process on the same day by informing the minors and late recruits among the Maoist army personnel about the Government’s plan and providing information about a proposed timeline for its completion. They were also briefed on possible rehabilitation opportunities such as access to income generating skill training and education.

The second phase of the process is designed around the completion of a profiling survey in order to receive detailed input from the minors and late recruits regarding their aspirations for the future.